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Dec 2012

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What will the 2013 Steelers Offense look like?

Thats the big question as we enter the off season. Haley interviewed for the Cardinals job so no word yet if he will accept that position but if he does onece again Ben will have a new OC.
No matter what happens on that end, the Steelers have to concentrate on how to improve this offense, what players they need to be successful.
Looking back earlier in the season, Ben was having one of his best seasons until he got injured, we were leading the league in third down conversions and utilizing a ball control type offense that gave us a lead in time of possesion.
This may be the type of offense the Steelers are best suited to play, in that period we had back to back 100 rushing yards by Dwyer and Redman, and even a 100 yrd receiving performance by Redman.
They used a short to medium passing game which led to Ben having fewer sacks and higher percentage of completions, now if you combine that with a strong run game maybe thats the ticket for this offense.
This type of offense was typical of how the Steelers played in the past when they were successful and it gave the defense more rest in a ball control type offense.
It looks like we probably lose Wallace and Mendy, and with the recent situation with Rainey, running back may be a sudden priority in the draft. Our receivers with Wallace gone may also be better suited for this type of offense to move the ball in combination of running the ball well.
The Texans seem to run a similar type and they have success with it, having Foster in the forefront with a strong run game, and a rested defense.
Now the question is with all the needs we have at different positions, will the Steelers do something different and take a running back in either the first or second round? What if Lacy is available when we pick, do we choose him?
We had a top ranked defense in 2012 even though we didn't have many sacks on the QB and few turnovers, imagine if we had a ball control offense how good this defense could be.
We were 26th in the league in rushing, that is telling why this offense struggled, maybe a commitment to get a good back that can run effectively could cure some offensive issues we have.

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While your points are on the right track- to compare the Texans & Steelers offences is only viable if you remove Andre Johnson & arian Foster from the Texans offense. Then they are similar.

To run a short to medium range 'ball control' passing game, the Steelers will need a bigger, physical WR for the crossing routes. The smaller guys are good to a degree, but if the field doesn't get opened up for them, the DB's & LB's are going to crowd the short zones, meaning the little guys need to fight through traffic. And with an OL that might be decimated by FA losses, the Steelers might not have the luxury of waiting for the short little WR's to find a soft zone. So get a bigger WR- a young Plaxico, and let Ben throw into double coverage like he used to.

If they can't stretch the defense out- that's the best way to be effective.

as for the running game- no Steeler RB is going to be as effective as Foster is, next season.

In all- chances are, the Steelers Offense is going to struggle next season.

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While your points are on the right track- to compare the Texans & Steelers offences is only viable if you remove Andre Johnson & arian Foster from the Texans offense. Then they are similar.

To run a short to medium range 'ball control' passing game, the Steelers will need a bigger, physical WR for the crossing routes. The smaller guys are good to a degree, but if the field doesn't get opened up for them, the DB's & LB's are going to crowd the short zones, meaning the little guys need to fight through traffic. And with an OL that might be decimated by FA losses, the Steelers might not have the luxury of waiting for the short little WR's to find a soft zone. So get a bigger WR- a young Plaxico, and let Ben throw into double coverage like he used to.

If they can't stretch the defense out- that's the best way to be effective.

as for the running game- no Steeler RB is going to be as effective as Foster is, next season.

In all- chances are, the Steelers Offense is going to struggle next season.

If the offensive line can stay healthy and those players commit themselves to improving their technique, the offense could actually improve...

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Oct 2008

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Originally Posted by Chadman

To run a short to medium range 'ball control' passing game, the Steelers will need a bigger, physical WR for the crossing routes. The smaller guys are good to a degree, but if the field doesn't get opened up for them, the DB's & LB's are going to crowd the short zones, meaning the little guys need to fight through traffic. And with an OL that might be decimated by FA losses, the Steelers might not have the luxury of waiting for the short little WR's to find a soft zone. So get a bigger WR- a young Plaxico, and let Ben throw into double coverage like he used to.

What about drafting the best TE available? It seems to me that he would be able to help in both protection and in those crossing routes, presenting a bigger body then any WR would be. With Heath's status in doubt, it seems to be a good idea to have someone to play a) if he can't; and b) for a dual threat when he gets back.

It also seems to me that good value's can be gotten on RB's after the 2nd round.

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Originally Posted by Sugar

What about drafting the best TE available? It seems to me that he would be able to help in both protection and in those crossing routes, presenting a bigger body then any WR would be. With Heath's status in doubt, it seems to be a good idea to have someone to play a) if he can't; and b) for a dual threat when he gets back.

It also seems to me that good value's can be gotten on RB's after the 2nd round.

The top 2 TE's in the draft class should be Notre Dame's Eifert and Stanford's Ertz. Both are projected to go in either the later portions of the first round or early portions of the second round. I don't think either will be the BPA available at #17, but if either one of them falls to us in round 2, they could be considered.

Forced patriotism is an oxymoron.

A government leader proclaiming that citizens have to stand proudly for the National Anthem or else they shouldn't be in the country sounds more like a mandated decree from a totalitarian dictator like Kim Jong Un rather than the leader of the Free World.

Our ability to peacefully protest is a fundamental American right, and any attempt by our government to squash this freedom is what is truly dishonoring the liberty that our Star Spangled Banner symbolizes.

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Originally Posted by RuthlessBurgher

The top 2 TE's in the draft class should be Notre Dame's Eifert and Stanford's Ertz. Both are projected to go in either the later portions of the first round or early portions of the second round. I don't think either will be the BPA available at #17, but if either one of them falls to us in round 2, they could be considered.

Would either of them be seen as an impact player? Perhaps someone who could be realistically expected to start in an NFL offense in game #1? If so, it still might be valuable. If not, then I wouldn't worry about it and get somebody later if we could. Of course, it might be a bit strange to draft two Stanford guys #1 back to back (I wonder if a team has ever done that before).

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The Colts drafted Luck from Stanford with the first overall pick last year, then drafted his Stanford teammate Coby Fleener with their second round pick as well. It's not back-to-back #1, but it's close (the 34th overall pick used on Fleener is almost a first round pick).

Forced patriotism is an oxymoron.

A government leader proclaiming that citizens have to stand proudly for the National Anthem or else they shouldn't be in the country sounds more like a mandated decree from a totalitarian dictator like Kim Jong Un rather than the leader of the Free World.

Our ability to peacefully protest is a fundamental American right, and any attempt by our government to squash this freedom is what is truly dishonoring the liberty that our Star Spangled Banner symbolizes.

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Originally Posted by Mister Pittsburgh

Our offense will stink due to the offensive line unless we improve it.

Very true although for some unexplainable reason so many want to continue to help the defense by taking players who won't play for two years. The reality is that we will waste the last 5 or so years we have Ben for unless we fix the OL NOW! Can't wait 2-3 years for Adams and Gilbert to develop. It has to happen now even if that means shedding some inflated salary from the defensive side of the team.